Charles drabek



C. DRABEK. SPRING SUSPENSION. FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22.1916.

Reissued Jul 20, 1920. 14,918.

I zfor'neygf UNITED ST ES PATENT oFFIcE.

CHARLES DRABEK, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR To me DRAIBEK EQUALIZER.

. COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Reissud July 20, 1920, Original no. 1,119,937, dated December a, 1914, Seria1 No. 805,535, filed December a 1913. Application for reissue filed March 22. 1916. Serial No. 86,015.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES DRABEK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spring Suspensions for Vehicles, of whichthe following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, inventions.

The subject of the present invention is a spring suspension for vehicles, which is designed to reduce'to a minimum the shocks caused by road obstructions and to give an easy and comfortable suspension for the body of the vehicle. In the present types of vehicles, referring more particularly now to automobiles, the springs are in many cases supplemented by various shock absorbing devices and it is necessary to supply such mechanism in addition to the regular springs in order to secure the easy riding qualities so much desired. My invention, on the other hand, secures this advantage without the aid of any auxiliary device, by first diminishing the travel transmitted from the axle, and then elfectively cushioning such movement.

To the accomplishment of these and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of-the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing, Figure 1 .is a side elevation of my invention, and

Fig. 2is a plan view of the same.

In Fig. 1, I show two fixed supporting members or axles 1 mounted upon suitable wheels 2, such axles being, of course, 9ml

lel. To each of such axles are. pivotally connected two spaced parallel frame memhere 3 which extend longitudinally of the vehicle and terminate adjacent tothe other of suchaxles. Two of .these frame members 3 are disposed between the first two, and are similarly attached to the other of the axles 1. Adjacent to the free ends 5 of said frame so as to distinguish it from other members there are mounted transverse members 6 which are spaced and are parallel and are each connected to such frame members 3. Such transverse members are pivotally connected to said frame members and are flattened upon the upper surface, adapting them to be rigidly connected to two longitudinally disposed members 7 which, together ,with

to which the body of the vehicle is designed to be attached. It will be seen that the platform consisting of these four members is rigid,.although it is pivotally supported at eachcorner upon one of said four frame members. Leaf springs 9 connect each of such transverse members 6 with the otherwise free end of the frame member 3 to which the transverse member is attached.

The action of the present spring suspension side of the point of attachment of such transverse member. A resistance to such movement of the frame member is supplied by the spring which connects the transverse member to the end of the frame member. In this way" the road shocks are distributed throughout the entire vehicle to some extent and are partially absorbed, thus preventing.

any annoying jars or shocks to theoccupants of the vehicle as is thecase withany of the spring suspension systems which are now in general use. The use of a rigid platform for the purpose of supporting the body member prevents the latter from being racked by any of the severe strains to which it isordinarily subjected, and increases the life of the body and of the entire vehicle.

It is unnecessary to say that the shocks. resulting from the movement of the vehicle over an uneven'roadway are, by this spring suspension, transmitted-substantially equally to the various parts of the body which-is one object of such a device. The shocks are such transverse members, form a platform first" diminished and cushioned, however, and the resultant -movement given the body is a very slight in proportion to the initial movement of the axles. Nos r'ing suspension now inuse secures the present distribution of shocks although it is possible to distribute them to some extent by means of the so-called platform l springs, which are means be employed.

will be manifest that two of the frame members 3, 3, pivoted at 8, 8, and associated with one of the axles, constitute .a pair of levers of the first class, having arms of unequal length, and that they cocperate with that particular axle and the member to which they are fulcrumed 7 Similarly, the other two frame members 3, 3, pivoted at 8', 8T, perform. the same function in connection with the other axle and the member to which they are fulcrumed. I therefore particularly point out and distinctl claim asmy invention:

1. n a vehicle, the combination with'two i fixed supporting members, of two frame frame members' 2, In a vehicle,.the combination with two fixed supporting member's, oftwo fixed frame members each pivotally attached at one end to one of said supporting members, two other frame members each pivotally attached at one end to the other of said supporting members, a transverse memberconnecting said two first-named frame members, a second transverse member connecting said two last-named frame members, connections between said transverse members, and resilient means connecting each of said trans verse members to the frame members to whichit is'already attached,.said resilient means being attached to the ends of said members each pivotally attached at one end to one of said supporting members, two other frame members each pivotally attached at one end to the otherof said supporting members, a transverse member connecting said two, first-named frame members intermediate the ends' of the same, a second transverse member connecting said two lastnamed frame members intermediate the ends of the same,'rigid connections'between said transverse -members', forming therewith a" .rigid platform, and resilient means connecting each of said transverse. members to the frame members. to which it is already attached, said resilient-,means being attached to the ends ofsaid frame members. r

' 3. In a vehicle, the combination with two fixed supporting members, of two frame members each'pivotally attached at one end to one of said supporting members, two other frame members each pivotally attached at one end to the other of said supporting members, a transverse member connecting saidtwo first-named frame members intermediate the ends of the same, a second transverse member connecting said two lastnamed frame members intermediate the ends of the same, two members connecting said transverse members and forming therewith a rigid platform, and resilient means connecting each of said transverse members with the free ends of said frame members to which said transverse members are attached.

4. In a vehicle, the combination with two axles, of two parallel spaced frame members each pivotally attached at one end to one of said axles, two other parallel spaced framemembers each pivotally attached at one end to the other of said axles, two parallel spaced transverse, members, each attached toftwo of said frame members intermediate the ends of the latter, other parallel spaced members connecting said transverse members and forming therewith a platform adapted to receive avehicle body, and resilient leaves extending from the ends of said transverse members to the otherwise free ends of said frame members to which said transverse members are attached.

5. 'In a vehicle, the combination of a loadcarrying member, a front axle, a rear axle, a pair of levers of the first class, having arms of unequal length, pivotally connected to the front axle and fulcrumed to the loadcarrying member, with the long arms of the levers extending from their fulcrums to the front axle, resilient means cooperating with the short arms of said levers and the load-carrying member, a' similar pair of levers pivotally connected to the rear axle and also fulcrumed to the" load-carrying member, with the long arms of said levers extending from their flllCIllIDS to the rear axle and crossing the long arms of the firstmentioned levers, and resilient means cooperating with the short arms of said latter pair of levers and the load-carrying member.

6. In a vehicle, the combination of'a loadcarrying member, a front axle, a rear axle, a pair of levers of the first class, having arms of unequal, length, pivotally connected to the front axle and fiilcri med to the loadcarrying member, with the long arms of the levers extending from their fulci'iiins to the front axle, springs cooperating with the short armsof said levers and the load-carrying. member, a similar. pair. of levers associ'ated with the rear axle andalso fulcrumed to the load-carrying member, with. the long arms of'saidlevers extending from their fulcrums to the rear axle and crossing the longxarmsof the first mentioned levers,

. andsprings cooperating with the 'sh'ortzarm s v :of said latter pair of levers and the loadcarrying'member.

7.. In avehicle, the-combinationof a load "carrying member, a front and? rear axle Positioned at a substantial distance forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, of the load carfyilngmember; thereby providing a wheel base materially longer than' the loadcarrying member, a pair of levers of the first class, having arms of unequal length, associated with the front axle and fulcrumed to the load-carrying member, with the long arms of the levers extending from their fulcrums to the front axle, springs cooperating with the short arms of said levers and secured to the load-carrying member directly above the fulcrums of said levers, a similar pair of levers associated with the rear axle and having pivotal connection with the loadcarrying member, with the long arms of the levers extending from their fulcrums to the rear axle and crossing the long arms of the first-mentioned levers, and springs cooperating with the short arms of said latter pair of levers and secured to the load-carrying member directly above the fulcrums of said I levers.

8. In a vehicle, the combination of aloadcarrying member, a front axle, a rear axle, a pair of levers of the first class, having arms of unequal length, associated with the front axle and pivotally connected with the load-carrying member rearwardly ofsaid front axle, with the long arms of the levers extending from their pivotal points to the front axle, resilient means positioned above said pivotal points cooperating with the short arm of each of said levers and the loadcarrying member, a similar pair of levers associated with the rear axle and also pivoted to the load-carrying member forwardly of said rear axle, with the long arms of the levers extending from their pivotal points to the rear axle, and resilient means positioned above said pivotal points, cooperating with the short arms of said levers and the load-carrying member.

, 9. Ina vehicle, the combination of a loadcarrying member, a front axle, a rearaxle, a pair of levers of the first class having arms of unequal length, associatedwith the front axle and pivotally connected with the load-carrying member rearwardlyof said front axle, with the long arms of the levers extending from their pivotal points to the front axle, springs positioned above said pivotal points cooperating with the short arm of each of said levers and the load carrying member, a similar pair of levers associated with the rear axle and also pivoted to the load-carrying member rearwardly of said rear axle, with the long arms of the levers extending from their pivotal points to the rear axle, and springs positionedabov'e said pivotal points cooperating with the-short arms of said levers and the load-carrying-memben I Y 7 -10; In a"vehicle, the combination of aload carrying frame, a front axle positioned a substantial adista'nce forwardly of the load the rear end of the frame, a second pair of similar levers fulcrumed to the load carrying frame intermediate its ends with the long arms of said levers extending rearwardly and secured to the rear axle, and the short arms of said levers extending forwardly beyond the front end of the frame,

and springs secured directly to the load carrying frame at the front and rear ends thereof and extending in opposite directions with their free ends secured to the short arms of said levers.

11. In a vehicle, the combination of a load carrvin frame a front axle ositioned a I u D substantial distance forwardly of the load carrying frame, a rear axle positioned a substantial distance rearwardly of the load carrying frame, a pair of levers of the first class, having arms of unequal length fulcrumed to the load carrying frame intermediate the ends thereof with the long arms of said levers projecting forwardly and se cured to the front axle and the short arms of'said levers projecting rearwardly beyond the rear end of the frame, a second pair of similar levers fulcrumed to the load carrying frame intermediate its ends with the long arms of said levers extending rear- Ywardly, and secured to the rear axle on the short arms of said levers extending forwardly beyond the front ends of the frame, and leaf springs directly secured at the opposite ends of the load carrying frame and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof with their outer ends secured to the short arms of the levers.

12. In a vehicle, the combination of a load-carrying member, a front axle, a rear axle, a pair of levers of the first class, provided with arms of unequal length and having pivotal connection with. the loadcarrying member, resilient means'mounted near one end of the load-carrying member and projecting rearwardly of said member, the short arms of said levers being bent upwardly' into cooperative engagement with said resilient means, and the long arms ofthe. levers being bent downwardly into cooperative engagement with the front axle,

resilient means mounted near the other end axle and having their short-arms bent upwardly into coiiperativeiengegement jwith said latteriresilient means,}whereb qthe rev 'silientl meansi extend -,in oppesite irections frem-the front and rearzof, the lead carrying-member and through theircoiiperation with the bent short arms of said levers serve to support the load carrying member. in e 1 position relatively close to the-ground. 4 ii In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specifieetion. 1

CHARLES DRABEK. 

